Golf target



GOLF TARGET Filed Dec. 23, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'N @s fp y N -jr Q n) S` I w H! o) WN L I C Q l K ci l fg l] 1 w N 1 E R lli 9d o l 2 V fdr' y I 2 Jam-29, 1935. G. T. BROWN 1,989,165

GOLF TARGET Filed Deo. 25, 195o 5 shew-sheet 2 Y N im 1 l\ `m Yt @enige [Z13/mafia G. T. BROWN Jan. 29, 1935.

GOLF TARGET Filed' Dec.- 25, 1930 .5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED sTATlzs` PATIENT GOLF TARGET." George T. Brown, New York', N. Y. Applicatiqnnecember 23, 1930, serial No. v504,363 1 claim. (ol. 26a-2o) This invention relates to an apparatus designed primarily for use in practicing the golf swing, the primary object of the invention being to provide a practice net having means which when struck v by a golf ball, will register the distance the ball would have traveled, if driven from the usual golf tee, over an open fairway.

An important object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character which may be adadjusted 'for use by golf professionals, or people having knowledge of vdistance driven when the golf ball is hit properly with a golf club.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to construct an apparatus of this character which will be exceptionally sensitive in its operation, to the end that a sliced or hooked ball, which would strike the target a glancing blow, will move the registering device a shorter distance than if the target is struck squarely. f

With the .foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement vof parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- Referring to the drawings:

Figure. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, the forward portion thereof being broken aW'ay'.'-. Y 1

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental sectional View through the head of the target.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the register.

Figure '1 is an enlargedfragmental sectional viewV through the upper portion of the apparatus, and illustrating the means for holding the body portion of the apparatus in its registering posi- 45 tion.

Figure 8 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the means for securing the sections ofthe head of the apparatus, within the front end of the body portion.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a frame indicated generally by the reference character 5, which frame is supported by the leg members 6, as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings. In order that the frame will 55 be held against lateral movement while in use,

guy wires indicated by the reference character 7 are provided, the guy wires being formed with hooks 8 at their upper ends, which hook into eyes 9 that are secured to the upper portion of the frame, the lower ends of the guy wiresbeing 15 anchored in any suitable and well known manner'. The frame 5 includes rectangular end sections 10, which are connected. by means of the spaced longitudinal bars' l1, which are shown as having their ends connected to the end sections 10. Spaced bars 12 are also. connected with the vend sections 10, the bars being arranged in such spaced relation with respect to each other, to receive the rollers 13 which act as asupport-for 'the tubularv body. portion 14, to be hereinafter more fully described. 9.

At opposite sides of the frame, are spaced bars l5, between which the rollers. 16 'are mounted, the rollers 16 acting to prevent lateral movement of the body portion 14, as it moves through the frame 5. The bars 15 as .well as the .bars;.12 are connected at their ends, by meansof blocks 16 ,that are mounted withinthe guide members 17 that in turn are secured to the inner surfaces of the side bars and upper and lower bars of the end sections 10, therebeing providedadjusting screws 18 and 19 respectively, 'operating on opposite sides of the blocks 16,v formoving the blocks 16 and bars connected therewith, laterally, thereby adjusting the support` for the body portion 1'4, in such a way that the action of the bodyvportion will be exceptionally sensitive to the force of a golf ball directed to vthe head thereof.

As clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, the tubular body portion 14 is of a length which is equal to approximately one-half the length of the frame, permitting of a wide range ofv movement of the body portion within the frame, so that golf balls driven various distances, may act upon the head and body portion, to register the distance in yards.

The head of the body portion comprises an inner portion 18 and an outerportion 19', the portions18' and 19 being constructed of canvas, and of a diameter to closely fit within the body portion 14. The portions 18' and 19 are held in position by means of the retaining rings 20 and 21 which are spaced apart to provide a space for the reception of the padding material 22 that acts to deaden therebound of the golf ball striking the head. Pins 23'are provided on the outer retaining ring 21 and move in bayonet slots formed in the forward end of the body portion 14, providing means whereby the head may be readily and easily disassembled. Brackets or stops 24 are secured within the body portion 14, and provide means for securing the inner retaining ring in its proper position.

Secured along the upper edge of the body portion 14, is a rack bar 25 which is engaged by the pivoted arm 26 that has a finger 2'7 at its free end, so that when the body portion 14 has been moved longitudinally of the frame, the linger will move into engagement with the rack bar, to hold the body portion against .return'movement An ear 28 extends vLipwardlyfrom .the .arm 26 .and .is formed with an opening to receive one end of the cable 29, the opposite end of the cable being connected to the spring arm 30 which is mounted directly thereabove. Connected with the free-send of the arm 30 is a cable 31 thatrmoves Aover\the pulley 32, the cable being of a length to extend to a point near the operatonfso-'thattheoperator may by pulling the cable 31 cause the;,ngerf27 and rack bar to become disengaged, thereby permitting-.the bodyazportion 1'4toz'returnitoi its..V normal` position atsthe front end ofthe frame.

Y The. :referencef'character '32 cdesignates aaircable that' is connected tothe .body portion 14,"tlirough the' medium of; the. .pinz33f that 'extends'. upwardly therefrom, :the: pin :being constructed tto 4operate in `ther-:slo't-v-34,' formed in' the j'bar 535,...that extends longitudinally of :the frame; at :the :opposite ,'side thereof. -Connected withzzthe pin..33;is .a cable 32' that .extends through screwfeyes 37..arrange`d along the frame, ranyisuitable. manner, the screw .-reyescacting; as Iguideszfor .the cable 32 ,1 to insure the? true `operation thereof. The opposite endofthe; cable32 extends :over thefroller, from where -it .passes rdownwar-.dlygiiitothe.housing -39, that forms the body portion of .thezreg-istering device, the wbody .portion lbeing supplied withggraduationswand' certainv indicatingcharacters. to indicaterlistancesby:yards The front -wallgof the'lfiousing.'39 iisformed'with a long-itudinalslot.through=wvhich..a;;.pin extends, .the-pincarrymgalaterarllyfextendedindicators v40, that move overthe graduations.

'zSecnreid= to :onegen'd: ofi-the cablelf,- is avweight 41fwhich vvis..suiiciently;heavy'to return the body portionz14to its normal position when thev nger 427. moves .out ofrcontact ',wriththe. rackubar 25. It might :.'beffurther :statedtthattthe 'housing 39 .will of .icourse 'be .disposed nearitheztee fromawhich a golfrball:isbeingdrivengso thattheperson driving the ball `may determinent a-i glance .thez ylength :of the'vdrive.

Secured to the Vframe 5 A.and `extendingforwardly from the front end thereof, is a circular hood 42 that tapers towards its forward end,v deiining an inclined lower surface 43 which is formed with an opening 44 through which the balls driven against the head of the device may fall. The forward end of the hood 42 is secured to the canvas strip 43 that acts as a net to coniine the golf balls within certain bounds. An opening is formed in the canvas 43', so that golf balls driven towards the canvas 43,in therproper directiomfwill pass through the opening. andengage thehead oftthe. body portion 14 to move the body portion.

In the use of the device, a person practicing driving stands directly in front of the opening in the canvas 43 and drives the golf balls towards `the opening. Aggolf ball properly driven, will pass through the opening in the canvas and strike the headlof the'movable body portion 14, with such Y force .asto move the body portion 14 rearwardly. As the body portion 14 moves rearwardly, the cable 432 is pulled; whichin turnmoves' .the indicators over ,the graduations .fof thefhousing 239, 'and since the `Iinger l2'?.` engages .the rack bar, .the indicators will be; held. in` theiriregistering :positions,.until the linger .'27 Ais released, fwhereupon the weight 41 exerts ;a. pullr on the ,oable,.return ing the body portion 14'to-itsnormal position.

While .I have shown [and describedyawveghtifor moving the body; portion to itsoriginalzposition after `beingreleased, itis to ,be understood thatby inclining thel frame forwardly'. .ther-bodyv portion will automatically return.y to itsfnorxnal position .byv gravity, the-weight acting rto .exertaapullcon the cable to take; upthe slack thereon.

I claim:

In -a device of the'character described,:a:frame, roller members withinptheframe;1a;tub11lar-=body portion operating withinzthe .frame .an-d1 movable between the roller members, ;barslfor: supporting the roller inem-bers, :guide ,members which'the ends of the :ba-rs Tare positioneclgadjusting screws extending .through the .guide membersvatpposite sides thereof, :and extending into the ',bars,;:said adjusting screws being -adaptedto :move the :coller members l. towardspand yaway 4from thelbodyportion, regulating the .movements of .z'thezbody aportionga head closing one `end lo'fgthe:tubular:,mem-- ber andadaptedfto tbe struck .by;.'av golfl '.bafllfmoving the body portion'lon'gitudirlally :ofrthefrazme and means ortemporarily holding; thezbodyportiony against returnA movement.

GEORGE T. BROWN. 

